GroshLink

Too many things going on ... as I was leaving for basketball the drywall repair man showed up on our porch an hour and 1/2 before he was expected (and it wasn't even confirmed that he was coming today).  It's great to have him working on the house, but now I need to be on-site as Theresa's heading out the door to pick-up Eden. 

Meanwhile, I intended to be working on the garden this morning, but other tasks consumed my time and energy.  How do I choose to respond? 

Earlier today, I finished William Backus & Marie Chapian's Telling Yourself The Truth:  Finding Your Way Out of Depression, Anxiety, Fear, Anger, and Other Common Problems by Applying the Principles of Misbelief Therapy [Note:  First post referencing this book:  Who are you? Who am I?  And there will be more to come].  The simple key to Misbelief Therapy is to tell yourself the truth instead of a lie.  AND when you identify a lie guiding your life to argue against it and replace it with the Truth, coming from the Word, Spirit, and Presence of God.  Here's a quote for you to ponder:

Truth is the unity in which Jesus Christ is the organizing principal and center.  The smallest truth of everyday life is part and parcel of that one great truth which holds the universe together by the One who is above all, through all, and in all.

A Christian is not a person who is dominated by outside forces of the world, not one whose happiness or unhappiness depends upon situation, circumstances, or attending events.  The Christian's happiness comes through his/her knowledge of Jesus and the power of God within.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit permeates every attitude, belief, dream, hope, and thought.  "I am complete in Him!" is his triumphant and true self-talk.

This doesn't mean you must never change an unpleasant situation!  Please know that this book is not telling you to passively accept all suffering and pain without attempting to change it.  When it is appropriate and within your power to remove the pain by changing the situation, not to do it would be destructive and downright silly . . . You don't become genuinely happy and fulfilled by some quirk of luck or accident.  Everlasting joy is not a state of being that comes flying across the airwaves bringing with it peace and gladness just because things "go right," or somebody else decides you're worthile person, or the right job just happens to fall into your lap. -- pp.167-9.

I confess that I have too much on my plate.  Although I really want to play ball today and work on the garden, future opportunities exist ;-)  My identity is not wrapped up on the court or the landscaping.  It's great for the drywall repair to be completed before the baby's born!  As a matter-of-fact as I look up from the computer, I can see improvements across the ceiling.  Thank-you God for provision to enable these little things to be addressed before they become bigger things in the midst of a fuller schedule.